GLS vs Purolator: Which Is Better for You?

GLS and Purolator handle much the same parcels. Both take pieces up to 150 lb, and GLS fits slightly longer ones, up to 120 in against Purolator's 108 in. So the choice comes down to where the parcel is going, when it needs to arrive, and what you pay along the way.

If timing or reach matters most, Purolator is built for it. It offers set delivery times from 9 a.m. to evening, some with a money-back guarantee, and delivers to virtually every postal code in Canada, as its Service Guide shows.

If you ship to homes often or declare high values, GLS has the edge. Its residential fee and declared-value rate are both lower, and GLS Express flies parcels from Ontario and Quebec to major cities by the next business day.

The right pick depends on the shipment in front of you, so compare both on Secureship and see the price and options side by side in one quote.

GLS vs Purolator at a Glance

How the two carriers compare on the factors that actually change your cost and delivery experience:

Factor	GLS	Purolator
Max weight per piece	150 lb / 68 kg	150 lb / 68 kg
Max length	120 in (108 in outside its direct network)	108 in
Max total size	165 in	165 in
Coverage	Coast to coast (some exceptions apply); higher charges outside its direct network	Virtually every postal code in Canada
Timed delivery within Canada	GLS Express next business day, no set time	Express 9AM, 10:30AM, 12PM and Evening; Ground 9AM, 10:30AM and Evening
Money-back guarantee	None published	On some services
Liability included	$2.00 per lb, or the invoice value if lower, up to $5,000	$2.00 per lb, up to $5,000
Declared value	4.25% of a value over $100	4.75% of a value over $100
Residential delivery	$4.50 per shipment	$4.65 per shipment
Saturday delivery	$38.55 and up, Quebec and Ontario direct network only	$25.00 per shipment, Canadian and U.S. destinations
Fuel surcharge	Set weekly, from the FCAC diesel price	Set monthly, from Natural Resources Canada diesel prices
U.S. and international	None today; parcel service to Europe announced as coming soon	Express U.S. and Ground U.S. services

Two rows need a second look. On liability, both use the same formula, $2.00 per pound when no value is declared, up to $5,000, though GLS pays the invoice value instead if it is lower. And the fuel rows differ in rhythm, not just amount: GLS's surcharge can move every week, while Purolator's courier surcharge is fixed for a month, so compare GLS's and Purolator's current percentages rather than assuming one is lower.

Sources: GLS Canada Tariff 100, Purolator Service Guide

On the four fees both carriers publish, each is lower on two. GLS's amounts are from its Tariff 100, effective January 1, 2026; Purolator's are as published in its rate guide, effective September 1, 2025.

Fee	GLS	Purolator
Residential delivery	$4.50 per shipment	$4.65 per shipment
Declared value	4.25% of a value over $100	4.75% of a value over $100
Saturday delivery	$38.55, or $38.55 plus $1.65 per km (Quebec and Ontario only)	$25.00 per shipment
Another delivery attempt	$9.75 per extra trip ($18.15 outside its direct network)	$6.00 per shipment

GLS is lower on the two fees that apply to everyday shipping: residential delivery and declared value. Purolator is lower on the two you pay only now and then: Saturday delivery and another delivery attempt. Outside its direct network, GLS charges more on several fees, so check where your postal code sits in GLS's Points List. GLS's full list is in our GLS Surcharges & Fees guide.

120 in maximum length

$4.50 residential fee

4.25% declared value

Next day GLS Express by air

For long items, home deliveries and regular shippers, GLS stands out:

Longer pieces: up to 120 in (304 cm) within GLS's direct network, against Purolator's 108 in.
A lower residential fee: $4.50 per shipment against Purolator's $4.65.
Cheaper declared value: 4.25% of a value over $100, against Purolator's 4.75%.
Published volume rates in Quebec and Ontario, with discounts of up to 55% as weekly volume grows. See our GLS Shipping Rates guide.
Next-day air from Ontario and Quebec: GLS Express delivers the next business day to 20 cities in 8 provinces.

9AM earliest timed delivery

Virtually all Canadian postal codes

U.S. delivery

$25.00 Saturday delivery

For timed deliveries and reach, Purolator has the edge:

Set delivery times: Express 9AM, 10:30AM, 12PM and Evening, and Ground 9AM, 10:30AM and Evening, some with a money-back guarantee. GLS publishes no delivery time and no guarantee.
Reach: Purolator states it delivers to virtually every postal code in Canada. GLS charges more outside its direct network and adds a surcharge for remote Beyond locations.
The U.S.: Purolator publishes Express U.S. and Ground U.S. services. GLS Canada ships within Canada today.
Cheaper, wider Saturday delivery: $25.00 per shipment to Canadian and U.S. destinations, where GLS's Saturday service starts at $38.55 and covers only Quebec and Ontario.
A cheaper redelivery: $6.00 per shipment against GLS's $9.75 per extra trip. See the fees table above.

When to Use GLS vs Purolator

Use GLS when...	Use Purolator when...
The piece is longer than 108 in, up to 120 in	It has to arrive at a set time, such as 9 a.m.
You ship to homes and want the lower residential fee	The parcel is going to the U.S.
You declare a high value and want the cheaper rate	You need Saturday delivery outside Quebec and Ontario
You ship every week in Quebec or Ontario	The address is remote or outside GLS's direct network

⏰

Check the deadline

Does it have to arrive by a set hour? Purolator sells timed delivery, and GLS doesn't. Is the next business day enough, from Ontario or Quebec? GLS Express is worth comparing.

📍

Check the destination

Going to the U.S.? That's Purolator. Within Canada, check whether the postal code is in GLS's direct network: outside it, several GLS charges go up.

📏

Check the size

Both stop at 150 lb and 165 in in total size. A piece between 108 and 120 in long fits GLS but not Purolator.

🚀

Let Secureship do the math for you

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Is GLS cheaper than Purolator?

It depends on the shipment. On the four fees both carriers publish, GLS is lower on residential delivery ($4.50 against $4.65) and declared value (4.25% against 4.75%), and Purolator is lower on Saturday delivery ($25.00 against GLS's $38.55 and up) and another delivery attempt ($6.00 against $9.75). The base rate for your route decides it, so compare both live.

Which has guaranteed delivery times, GLS or Purolator?

Purolator. It publishes timed Express services (9AM, 10:30AM, 12PM and Evening) and timed Ground services (9AM, 10:30AM and Evening) within Canada, some with a money-back guarantee. GLS Express delivers the next business day from Ontario and Quebec, but GLS publishes no delivery time and no guarantee for it. If the hour matters, compare timed options before you ship.

Do GLS and Purolator deliver on Saturday?

Both offer it for a fee. Purolator charges $25.00 per shipment for Saturday delivery to Canadian and U.S. destinations. GLS's Saturday service costs $38.55 and up and covers only Quebec and Ontario, within its direct network. See our GLS Delivery Times guide.

Can I ship to the U.S. with GLS or Purolator?

Yes, with Purolator. It offers two ways to ship to the U.S.: Express U.S. when it needs to arrive fast, and Ground U.S. when it can take a little longer. GLS Canada only delivers within Canada for now, though it has announced parcel shipping to Europe as coming soon. If your parcel is heading south of the border, compare U.S. rates from every carrier in one quote.

How do GLS and Purolator set their fuel surcharge?

Both follow the price of diesel, but on a different rhythm. GLS updates its fuel surcharge every week, with the new rate starting each Monday, so it can change from one week to the next. Purolator updates its courier fuel surcharge once a month, so the rate you see stays the same for the whole month. Either way, the percentage moves over time, so check GLS's and Purolator's current rates before you ship.

More GLS Guides

GLS Guide
Shipping in Canada

Complete guide to GLS Canada parcel shipping, weight limits, pickup, and how to save on every shipment.

GLS Guide
Shipping Rates

How GLS Canada prices a parcel, including dimensional weight, plus how to get a live quote.

GLS Guide
Services Overview

GLS Ground, next-day GLS Express, Same-day, MaxPak and DexPak, plus the add-ons and what GLS won't carry.

GLS Guide
Delivery Times

GLS Canada transit times, Saturday delivery, and the holiday schedule explained.

GLS Guide
Surcharges & Fees

The GLS Canada fuel surcharge, the Quebec Fuel Premium, and the residential and handling fees, explained.

GLS Guide
Alternatives

When GLS Canada is the right call, and when Canada Post, Purolator, FedEx, UPS or Canpar fits your shipment better.

GLS vs
Canada Post

Personal items, PO boxes, weight limits and fees compared between GLS Canada and Canada Post.

GLS vs
FedEx

Guarantees, size limits, handling charges and fees compared between GLS Canada and FedEx.

GLS vs
UPS

Saturday delivery, residential and remote-area fees compared between GLS Canada and UPS.

Sources

GLS figures are sourced from official GLS Canada documentation. Purolator figures are Purolator's own published claims. Last updated: November 5, 2026.

GLS Canada Parcel 2026 Rules and Regulations (Tariff 100), effective January 1, 2026, last updated October 2026. gls-group.com
GLS Canada: Fuel and Carbon Surcharges. gls-group.com
GLS Canada: 2026 Points List (Parcel), Coast to Coast, effective July 13, 2026. gls-group.com
Purolator Service Guide, effective June 30, 2026. purolator.com
Purolator Rate Guide, effective September 1, 2025. purolator.com
Purolator, courier fuel surcharges. purolator.com

GLS vs Purolator

Near-identical size limits, different reach and promises. Compare coverage, timed delivery and fees head-to-head, then see both rates side by side with Secureship.

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